She was beautiful. She was a genius. Could the world handle both? A powerful, illuminating novel about Hedy Lamarr.

Hedy Kiesler is lucky. Her beauty leads to a starring role in a controversial film and marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer, allowing her to evade Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. But Hedy is also intelligent. At lavish Vienna dinner parties, she overhears the Third Reich's plans. One night in 1937, desperate to escape her controlling husband and the rise of the Nazis, she disguises herself and flees her husband's castle.

She lands in Hollywood, where she becomes Hedy Lamarr, screen star. But Hedy is keeping a secret even more shocking than her Jewish heritage: she is a scientist. She has an idea that might help the country and that might ease her guilt for escaping alone -- if anyone will listen to her. A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece.

Title

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The Only Woman in the Room

ISBN

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9781492666868

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About Marie Benedict

Marie Benedict is a lawyer with more than ten years' experience as a litigator at two of the country's premier law firms. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston College with a focus in History and Art History, and a cum laude graduate of the Boston University School of Law. While practicing as a lawyer, Marie dreamed of a fantastical job unearthing the hidden historical stories of women -- an

The Only Woman in the Room Reviews

Kylie D

An inspiring book about a remarkable woman. This is a fictionalised account of screen siren Hedy Lamarr, known for her beauty, but not recognised until recently for her outstanding contribution to sci...

Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader

4 brilliant stars to this story of Hedy Lamarr! I read and enjoyed Carnegie’s Maid, and I have been looking forward to reading Marie Benedict’s latest fictional portrayal of a strong woman. In thi...

Katie B

3.25 stars This is the third historical fiction book I have read by the author and while I did enjoy this one, I thought it had some flaws. I don't normally use quarter stars in my ratings but this is...

? Sandi ?

3.5 stars Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read and review this ARC. Published Jan 8, 2019I put off reading this book because I could not bring myself to read another WW...

Lisa

Hedy Lamarr was both stunningly beautiful and stunningly smart. But could the world handle both?SUMMARYMay 17, 1933, the beautiful Hedwig Kiesler is on stage performing the role of her life in Vienna,...

Pamela

Excellent! Highly Recommend! First half a little more than the first, but a fabulous historical, biographical-novel all the same. I enjoyed it immensely. So much so, I had planned to attend the B & N ...

Karen

Marie Benedict has introduced me once again to a fascinating historical figure. This excellent novel begins in the early days of newly appointed chancellor Adolf Hitler. It showcases the life and vast...

Billie

I wanted so much more from this book. Hedy Lamarr was a brilliant, fascinating woman and while Benedict hit the highlights of her life, that's all she did—hit the highlights. This is a biographical ...

Jenna Bookish

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark, Booktrib, and The Girly Book Club for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the publishe...

Jerrie (redwritinghood)

What should have been a fascinating story suffered from boring writing. Also, the whole point was to show how Lamarr was a multi-faceted woman — inventor, actress, etc. — but the majority of the b...